Jan Holman carries unique nautical items and antiques at The Sea Hagg in Cortez. SUN PHOTO/LOUISE BOLGER

By Louise Bolger
sun staff writer

If there is anyone out there within the readership of this newspaper who hasn’t been to The Sea Hagg on Cotez Road at least once, you need to get up right now, get in your car and drive to 12304 Cortez Road W. as fast as your little gas guzzler will carry you. And if you’re expecting to see any ugly old witches or female demons walking around, forget it; the only sea hags in this shop are on the walls.

Jan Holman, the owner of The Sea Hagg, is in her seventh year of supplying unique nautical and antique curiosities to her customers. Translated, this means anything and everything that has something to do with the sea. During a 25- year career in Ohio, Holman was involved with antiques, decorating, retail sales and advertising and settled in Cortez because of her love of all things nautical. Love quickly turned into passion as Holman started collecting one-of-a-kind treasures influenced by the sea and showcasing them in her equally one-of-a-kind chandlery and gallery.

The Sea Hagg is distinctive right from the fishing boat on display in the front yard; stepping aboard will make you feel you’re in a scene from "Jaws." Of course, before you even get to the fishing boat, you have to pass by the mermaid-inspired sports car park nearby and pass through the awesome gates and pillars imbedded with fish, shells, seahorses, starfish and other assorted sea creatures.

Inside, you’ll find an eclectic collection of anchors, brass instruments, mermaids created in all kinds of materials and maritime accessories too numerous to list. And don’t forget to stroll through the Salvage Garden, where you might find shutters and windows with character, old lines from ships, mirrors and who knows what else. I even spied tall stalks of bamboo.

Across the street Holman has added the Cortez Trading Company & Gallery offering original watercolors, lots of fish carvings and of course, more mermaids.

Holman and three employees, Carmy Naylor, Pat Musser and Barbara Hoehn, keep updating the new and exclusive inventory practically on a daily basis. Right now they’re getting ready for the anniversary sale and celebration of The Sea Hagg’s seven years bewitching Cortez, so watch for the details in next week’s paper.

Seven years ago, exhausted from cleaning out the building in preparation of opening her new business, Holman said she was feeling like an "old sea hag" and presto a name was born. AsAHolman says, "a sea hag’s beauty is in the eye of the beholder," but her Sea Hagg has beauty to spare.

Name: The Sea Hagg
Address: 12304 Cortez Road W., Cortez
Telephone: (941) 795-5756
Hours: 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday; Sunday by chance or appointment
Web site: www.seahagg.com